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U.S. Women's Soccer Team Has Kicked Off Defense of It's World Cup Title
Aired September 22, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. women's soccer team has kicked off defense of it's World Cup title on the right foot. They beat Sweden 3-1 in the opening rounds. But there's a lot more at stake here.
Our Patty Davis reports the defending champs are fighting for the very life of their U.S. league.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. women's soccer team, with superstar Mia Hamm, is battling to keep its World Cup title.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The hitter caught the post of that.
DAVIS: But the battle ahead will be off the field. Last week, the WUSA Women's Professional Soccer League shut down, citing a $20 million shortfall.
JIM MOOREHOUSE, U.S. SOCCER SPOKESMAN: In this economy, in the professional leagues, having strong investors is the key. And they didn't have that at this point.
DAVIS: It wasn't just a lack of corporate sponsors. Attendance had also fallen short. Now, the players are out of jobs and their young fans are out a professional sport they've grown to love.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I really look up to them.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Since they're not going to have the WUSA, they might not have it when I get older, so I couldn't play on the professional team.
JULIE FOUDY, U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM: You know, we felt, as players, that it was such an empowering experience for these young kids, not just girls, but for the boys to sit there and grow up and watch these women doing these incredible athletic feats, not just men.
DAVIS: Since the announcement, there's been an outpouring from fans.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Instead of us getting the uniforms, we could give the money to them to help them out.
ABBY WAMBACH, U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM: A little girl was writing and she's like, I'm now saving up, I'm putting my life savings to the WUSA and I'm going to send it.
DAVIS: It'll take more than that, six to eight corporate sponsors with millions of dollars. Players say they're not about to give up on their league without a fight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that's been the motto for this team is that we're not going to let things die. It's a dream of ours.
DAVIS (on camera): With the women's World Cup being played over the next several weeks, the players hope the spotlight and another good performance will attract investors and spectators, revving U.S. professional women's soccer.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
World Cup Title>
Aired September 22, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. women's soccer team has kicked off defense of it's World Cup title on the right foot. They beat Sweden 3-1 in the opening rounds. But there's a lot more at stake here.
Our Patty Davis reports the defending champs are fighting for the very life of their U.S. league.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. women's soccer team, with superstar Mia Hamm, is battling to keep its World Cup title.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The hitter caught the post of that.
DAVIS: But the battle ahead will be off the field. Last week, the WUSA Women's Professional Soccer League shut down, citing a $20 million shortfall.
JIM MOOREHOUSE, U.S. SOCCER SPOKESMAN: In this economy, in the professional leagues, having strong investors is the key. And they didn't have that at this point.
DAVIS: It wasn't just a lack of corporate sponsors. Attendance had also fallen short. Now, the players are out of jobs and their young fans are out a professional sport they've grown to love.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I really look up to them.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Since they're not going to have the WUSA, they might not have it when I get older, so I couldn't play on the professional team.
JULIE FOUDY, U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM: You know, we felt, as players, that it was such an empowering experience for these young kids, not just girls, but for the boys to sit there and grow up and watch these women doing these incredible athletic feats, not just men.
DAVIS: Since the announcement, there's been an outpouring from fans.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Instead of us getting the uniforms, we could give the money to them to help them out.
ABBY WAMBACH, U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM: A little girl was writing and she's like, I'm now saving up, I'm putting my life savings to the WUSA and I'm going to send it.
DAVIS: It'll take more than that, six to eight corporate sponsors with millions of dollars. Players say they're not about to give up on their league without a fight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that's been the motto for this team is that we're not going to let things die. It's a dream of ours.
DAVIS (on camera): With the women's World Cup being played over the next several weeks, the players hope the spotlight and another good performance will attract investors and spectators, revving U.S. professional women's soccer.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
World Cup Title>
